AB500,61,55 30.381 (6) (title) Diversions of water; changing of stream courses.
AB500, s. 231 6Section 231. Subchapter IV (title) of chapter 30 [precedes 30.40] of the
7statutes is renumbered subchapter III (title) of chapter 30 [precedes 30.40].
AB500, s. 232 8Section 232. 30.50 (1b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB500,61,119 30.50 (1b) "Aids to navigation" means buoys, beacons, and other fixed objects
10in the water that are used to mark obstructions to navigation or to direct navigation
11through safe channels.
Note: This definition is moved here from current s. 30.74 (2) (b).
AB500, s. 233 12Section 233. 30.50 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 30.01 (1bm) and amended
13to read:
AB500,61,1614 30.01 (1bm) "Boat" or "vessel" means every description of watercraft used or
15capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, except a seaplane on the
16water and a fishing raft.
Note: The definition of "boat" and "vessel" are relocated to the definitions
applicable to the entire chapter.
AB500, s. 234 17Section 234. 30.50 (4q) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB500,61,2218 30.50 (4q) "Lake sanitary district" means a town sanitary district that has
19within its boundaries at least 60% of the footage of shoreline of a public inland lake,
20as defined in s. 60.782 (1), for which a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation
21district is not in effect. The footage of shoreline shall be measured by use of a map
22wheel on the U.S. geological survey 7 1/2 minute series map.

Note: The current statutes provide for the determination of shoreline footage in
s. 30.105. Section 30.105 is replicated in the 3 statutes where measurement of shoreline
footage is specified.
AB500, s. 235 1Section 235. 30.50 (4u) of the statutes is created to read:
AB500,62,32 30.50 (4u) "Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town, county, town
3sanitary district, or public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district.
AB500, s. 236 4Section 236. 30.50 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB500,62,75 30.50 (9) "Owner" Except as provided in s. 30.605, "owner" means the person
6who has lawful possession of a boat by virtue of legal title or equitable interest
7therein which entitles the person to lawful possession.
AB500, s. 237 8Section 237. 30.50 (9b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB500,62,129 30.50 (9b) "Patrol boat" means a boat authorized by this state or by a local
10governmental unit for the purpose of law enforcement, search and rescue, fire
11fighting, emergency response, or water safety operations, including a water safety
12patrol unit.
Note: "Patrol boat" is defined here and used consistently in subch. V in statutes
related to the equipment and operation of such boats.
AB500, s. 238 13Section 238. 30.50 (10g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB500,62,1714 30.50 (10g) "Regulatory marker" means any anchored or fixed marker in the
15water or anchored platform on the surface of the water, other than aids to navigation,
16and includes a swimming area marker, speed zone marker, information marker,
17mooring buoy, fishing buoy, and restricted activity area marker.
Note: This definition is moved here from current s. 30.74 (2) (b).
AB500, s. 239 18Section 239. 30.50 (13r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB500,62,2119 30.50 (13r) "Water skiing or a similar activity" means any activity in which a
20person is towed in the water behind or alongside of a boat, including barefoot skiing,
21aquaplaning, kneeboarding, or being towed on an inflatable device.

Note: This clarifies the use of the term "water skiing or a similar activity". The
list of activities after "including" is not meant to be exclusive. This definition is intended
to apply to other similar activities that are currently enjoyed on the water, or that may
be developed and introduced in the future.
AB500, s. 240 1Section 240. 30.5005 of the statutes is created to read:
AB500,63,5 230.5005 Department duties and powers. (1) Federal law. The department
3shall submit proposed legislation to the legislature in the manner provided under s.
413.172 (2) in order to conform the requirements under ss. 30.50 to 30.71 with federal
5statutes and regulations.
Note: This provision directs the department to suggest new legislation to keep
statutory boat registration, equipment and operation requirements in conformity with
federal regulations. Current statutes specifically requiring conformity with federal
regulations [ss. 30.501 (8), 30.505, 30.61 (9), 30.62 (9) and 30.67 (2) (a)] are amended or
repealed. The special committee does not intend by this new procedure to withdraw the
statutory authority for any rules promulgated by the DNR that adopt federal statutes or
regulations, whether wholly or in part.
AB500,63,8 6(2) Rules; generally. The department may promulgate rules under this
7subchapter. Any reference to a provision of this subchapter includes any rule
8promulgated under that provision.
Note: The first sentence of sub. (2), above, restates the authority of the DNR to
promulgate rules. This bill eliminates various statutes that grant permissive
rule-making authority in subch. V. The 2nd sentence in sub. (2), above, eliminates the
need for several instances of the phrase in the form, "this section, or rules promulgated
under this section", and applies that principle to all rules promulgated under subch. V.
In addition, it should be noted that DNR has emergency rule-making authority under s.
227.24.
AB500, s. 241 9Section 241. 30.501 (8) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: Current s. 30.501 (8) authorizes the DNR to promulgate rules regarding
boat capacity plates, and requires the rules to conform with appropriate federal
regulations. This provision is repealed for several reasons. First, the authorization to
promulgate regulations is stated generally for all of subch. V in new s. 30.5005 (1) (b).
Second, it is not necessary to state that the rules must comply with federal regulations.
Third, if there is an issue regarding the consistency of statutes with federal regulations,
that is a matter for the legislature, and not for DNR rules.
AB500, s. 242 10Section 242. 30.501 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB500,64,211 30.501 (9) This section applies to vessels manufactured after January 1, 1966
12and
prior to November 1, 1972. All vessels manufactured on or after November 1,

11972, shall comply with appropriate federal regulations and the capacity
2information shall be displayed as required.
Note: Section 30.501 relates to capacity plates on boats. This amendment makes
the statute applicable to all boats manufactured prior to November 1, 1972.
AB500, s. 243 3Section 243. 30.505 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB500,64,10 430.505 Certificate of number system to conform to federal system. The
5certificate of number system and the issuance of identification numbers employed
6by the department shall be in conformity with the overall system of identification
7numbering for boats established by the U.S. federal government. The department
8shall promulgate rules as are necessary to bring the state certificate of number
9system and the issuance of identification numbers into conformity with this federal
10system.
Note: The rationale for this amendment is the same as that stated in the note
describing the repeal of s. 30.501 (8).
AB500, s. 244 11Section 244. 30.52 (1) (b) 1r. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB500,64,1512 30.52 (1) (b) 1r. A When a person applying applies for registration of a federally
13documented vessel, the department shall submit as part of the application a
14photocopy of the front and back of
verify that the federal certificate of documentation
15for the vessel, which must be is current at the time of applying for registration.
Note: Information on federally documented vessels is available on the U.S. Coast
Guard web site, and the DNR may verify the federal documentation by that means. The
DNR may also request a photocopy of the federal registration.
AB500, s. 245 16Section 245. 30.537 (4) (e) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: This provision requires a person who receives notice from the DNR under
s. 30.571 regarding perfection of a security interest on a boat titled in another state to pay
a $2 fee to the DNR. The DNR does not have an effective means to collect this fee and
does not currently collect it, and it is therefore repealed.
AB500, s. 246 17Section 246. 30.54 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB500,65,318 30.54 (2) If a person applies for a replacement certificate under sub. (1),
19conservation wardens or local law enforcement officials, after presenting

1appropriate credentials to the owner or legal representative of the owner named in
2the certificate of title, shall may inspect the boat's engine serial number or hull
3identification number, for purposes of verification or enforcement.
Note: This provision relates to replacement certificates of title. This provision
requires a conservation warden or local law enforcement official to inspect the hull
number of engine number of a boat in order to verify it in connection with replacement
of the certificate of title by the DNR. This inspection is not consistently performed, and
this bill makes the inspection optional.
AB500, s. 247 4Section 247. 30.571 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB500,65,11 530.571 Notification of person who has perfected security interest. If the
6department receives information from another state that a boat that is titled in this
7state is being titled in the other state and the information does not show that a
8perfected security interest, as shown by the records of the department, has been
9satisfied, the department shall notify the person who has perfected the security
10interest. The person shall pay the department the fee under s. 30.537 (4) (e) for each
11notification.
Note: The fee referenced in this provision is eliminated by this bill.
AB500, s. 248 12Section 248. 30.60 of the statutes is repealed.
Note: Current s. 30.60 creates a motorboat classification system based on boat
length. These classifications are only used in 3 places in the current statutes: ss. 30.61
(2) and (3) and 30.69 (1) (a). Rather than use this classification system, those statutes
are amended to substitute reference to the length of the motorboat.
AB500, s. 249 13Section 249. 30.605 of the statutes is created to read:
AB500,65,15 1430.605 Owner; definition. In ss. 30.61 to 30.71, "owner" means any of the
15following:
AB500,65,16 16(1) An owner, as defined in s. 30.50 (9).
AB500,65,17 17(2) A lessee of a boat.
Note: "Lessee" is added to the definition of owner to assure that the statutes apply
to those who may lease a boat on a long-term basis. Section 30.50 (9) defines "owner" to
include a person who has an equitable interest in a boat, but that term does not
necessarily describe a lease and, in any case, that definition is meant to apply primarily

to boat titling and registration statutes. "Lessee" does not include short-term rental of
boats, such as on a daily or weekly basis.
AB500, s. 250 1Section 250. 30.61 (1), (2) (intro.), (3) (intro.), (4), (6) (b), (7) and (8) of the
2statutes are amended to read:
AB500,66,63 30.61 (1) When lights required; prohibited lights. (a) No person shall may
4operate any motorboat at any time from sunset to sunrise unless such the motorboat
5carries the lighting equipment required by this section and unless such the lighting
6equipment is lighted when and as required by this section.
AB500,66,97 (b) No owner shall may give a person permission for the operation of to operate
8a motorboat at any time from sunset to sunrise unless such the motorboat is equipped
9as
carries the lighting equipment required by this section.
AB500,66,1210 (c) No person shall may exhibit from or on any motorboat when under way at
11any time from sunset to sunrise any light which may be mistaken for those required
12by this section.
AB500,66,15 13(2) Lights for motorboats of classes a and 1 less than 26 feet long . (intro.)
14All motorboats of classes A and 1 less than 26 feet long when under way at any time
15from sunset to sunrise shall carry and have lighted the following lamps:
AB500,66,18 16(3) Lights for motorboats of classes 2 and 3 26 or more feet long. (intro.) All
17motorboats of classes 2 and 3 26 or more feet long when under way at any time from
18sunset to sunrise shall carry and have lighted the following lamps:
AB500,67,2 19(4) Sailboats with motors. Sailboats A sailboat equipped with motors a motor
20and being propelled in whole or in part by such the motor must shall comply with sub.
21(2) or (3), whichever is as applicable. Whenever such a sailboat is being propelled
22entirely by sail at any time from sunset to sunrise, it shall have lighted the lamps
23showing the colored lights specified in sub. (2) or (3), but not the lamps showing the

1white lights, and shall carry ready at hand a lantern or flashlight showing a white
2light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to avert collision.
AB500,67,4 3(6) (b) This subsection does not require any light to be shone from A duck blinds
4blind constructed on emergent vegetation is not required to be lighted.
AB500,67,11 5(7) Performance Design specifications for lamps. Every white light
6prescribed required by this section shall be of such character as designed to be visible
7at a distance of at least 2 miles on a dark night with clear atmosphere. Every colored
8light prescribed required by this section shall be of such character as designed to be
9visible at a distance of at least one mile on a dark night with clear atmosphere. The
10owner of a motorboat that is required to carry lighting equipment under this section
11shall maintain the equipment so that the equipment functions as designed.
Note: The current statute requires lights to be "of such character" as to be "visible".
This language establishes a design standard for the lights, and the requirement is revised
and clarified accordingly. A requirement to maintain the lights is added.
AB500,67,16 12(8) Optional lighting requirements. Any boat may carry and exhibit the lights
13required by the federal international regulations for preventing collisions at sea,
141948, federal act of October 11, 1951, (33 USC 143-147d) as amended,
as
15implemented by 33 CFR part 81 and interpreted by 33 CFR part 82
in lieu of the
16lights required by subs. (2) and (3).
AB500, s. 251 17Section 251. 30.61 (9) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: The current statute requires DNR to promulgate rules to keep the lighting
requirement consistent with federal law. This provision is replaced by a directive in new
s. 30.5005 for the DNR to propose statutory amendments to keep statutory registration,
equipment and operation requirements in conformity with federal regulations.
AB500, s. 252 18Section 252. 30.61 (10) of the statutes is renumbered 30.68 (13) and amended
19to read:
AB500,68,3
130.68 (13) Operation Nighttime operation of personal watercraft. (a)
2Notwithstanding subs. (1), (2), (8) and (9), no No person may operate a personal
3watercraft at any time from sunset to sunrise.
AB500,68,64 (b) If a person operates a personal watercraft in violation of par. (a), the
5operation shall be subject to additional penalties for any failure to comply with the
6applicable lighting requirements under subs. s. 30.61 (1), (2), and (8) and (9).
AB500, s. 253 7Section 253. 30.62 (title), (1) and (2) (b) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB500,68,11 830.62 (title) Other equipment Equipment other than lighting. (1) When
9equipment required.
No person shall may operate any boat on the waters of this
10state unless such the boat is equipped as required by this section and the rules of the
11department promulgated under this section
.
AB500,68,18 12(1m) Rental boats. No owner of a boat shall may rent such a boat to any other
13person for use upon on the waters of this state unless such the boat is equipped at
14the time of rental as required by this section and the rules of the department
15promulgated under this section. If such
. If the boat is properly equipped at the time
16of rental for conditions then existing, the responsibility of the owner under this
17section is met, notwithstanding a subsequent change in the number of passengers
18or a change in time from daylight to dark.
Note: The provision regarding rules of the department is repealed and replaced
by a general provision in new s. 30.5005 as created by this bill. That provision states that
any reference to statutory requirements includes additional requirements promulgated
by the DNR by rule pursuant to that statutory requirement.
AB500,68,21 19(2) (b) Maximum noise levels for operation. No person may operate a motorboat
20powered by an engine on the waters of this state in such a manner as to exceed a noise
21level of 86 measured on an "A" weighted decibel scale.
AB500, s. 254 22Section 254. 30.62 (2) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 30.62 (2) (c) 1. and
23amended to read:
AB500,69,4
130.62 (2) (c) 1. No person may sell, resell , or offer for sale any motorboat for use
2on the waters of the state if the motorboat has been so modified that it cannot be
3operated in such a manner that it will comply with the noise level requirements
4under
in compliance with par. (b).
AB500, s. 255 5Section 255. 30.62 (2) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB500,69,96 30.62 (2) (c) 2. No person engaged in the business of selling motorboats at retail
7within this state may sell a motorboat for use on the waters of this state in the
8ordinary course of that person's business if the motorboat cannot be operated in
9compliance with par. (b).
Note: Current s. 30.62 (2) (d) prohibits the manufacture and sale of a motorboat
for use in this state if it does not comply with maximum noise levels. That statute does
not prohibit offering for sale a motorboat that does not meet maximum noise level
standards if the boat is not manufactured in this state. This new provision prohibits the
retail sale of a motorboat for use on the waters of this state if the motorboat does not meet
noise level requirements.
AB500, s. 256 10Section 256. 30.62 (2) (d) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 30.62 (2) (d) and
11amended to read:
AB500,69,1512 30.62 (2) (d) Maximum noise level for manufacture. No person may
13manufacture and or offer for sale any motorboat for use on the waters of this state
14if the motorboat cannot be operated in such a manner so as to comply with the noise
15level requirements under
in compliance with par. (b).
AB500, s. 257 16Section 257. 30.62 (2) (d) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 30.62 (2) (dm) and
17amended to read:
AB500,69,2118 30.62 (2) (dm) Testing procedures. The department may promulgate rules
19establishing testing procedures to determine noise levels for the enforcement of this
20section. The department may revise these rules as necessary to adjust to advances
21in technology.
AB500, s. 258 22Section 258. 30.62 (2) (d) 3. of the statutes is repealed.
AB500, s. 259
1Section 259. 30.62 (2) (f) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: This provision requires local ordinances to be identical to this statute. This
requirement is imposed by s. 30.77 and is unnecessary here.
AB500, s. 260 2Section 260. 30.62 (2) (g) 1. to 3. of the statutes are amended to read:
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